Do you have old windows that let the cold and noise through? Do you want to save on heating or air conditioning? Or, if you are concerned about improving your home’s energy efficiency and want to renovate your house, we will give you all the details so that you can choose the type of windows that best suit your needs.
Buying windows is something that happens very rarely in life. Therefore, people who face this situation do not want to make a mistake when choosing them. The decision is not usually easy because there are many types of windows, different models and varieties in each model, types of materials, and benefits depending on our choice.
For this reason, we will always advise you to let yourself be advised by qualified professionals capable of studying each project from scratch to determine the best solutions for specific needs.
We have compiled all the information available to answer the question: Which windows do I choose? With a step-by-step guide written and without going into technical details that only complicate your choice.
How to choose the type of window that best suits your home?
Not all windows are the same, you already know, even more so if you have already begun investigating this world.
Each material, each compliment, and each design decision entails some positive and negative points, making them more suitable for some needs or others, for some areas or others, to solve some challenges or others.
A window is good because it helps you live better and be happier.
Complete guide to choosing the type of windows that you can put in your house
What points should you take into account to choose your windows
First, we must consider the type of profile that best suits our needs: PVC, aluminum, or wood.
Secondly, glazing is a fundamental element in determining the benefits of a window and its excellent orientation toward solving specific problems or challenges.
We must also define what type of opening is the most convenient for us depending on our interior and exterior spaces and the type of use we will give it.
The shape of the windows is also an essential aspect when choosing one manufacturer or another.
Increasingly, the degree of energy efficiency of a window is a fundamental decision element due to its more significant contribution to savings, comfort, and the quality of life of families.
Finally, another of the trends here to stay is the concern for the aesthetics of windows, which are becoming decisive elements for the style and decoration of the different spaces.
Types of windows according to the type of profile
The grid is the material from which the window frames and leaves are made. Each material has characteristics and properties that translate into specific user benefits.
Therefore, it is essential to correctly choose the type of profile that best suits our needs.
Wooden windows
Wooden windows are the most traditional option. Wood is an excellent natural insulator, and aesthetically, they are beautiful. In addition, it allows it to be worked with relative ease, giving rise to actual works of craftsmanship.
However, it also has its drawbacks.
It is the most expensive material, both in cost and maintenance. Wood absorbs moisture, which can cause it to swell, crack and warp, plus it is further affected by pollution and exposure to changes in temperature and sunlight.
This affects its thermal and acoustic insulation properties. In addition, despite being a natural material, the production of wooden windows causes the felling of numerous extensions of forests and the consequent impact on the environment.
Aluminum windows
Aluminum windows are offered in various colors and finishes, foliated or lacquered.
However, aluminum is a good conductor of energy as a metal, so its insulation properties and energy efficiency are lower than those of other materials. In addition, this fact adds to the need to screw the corners as it is impossible to weld them hermetically, with the consequent entry of air and noise.
To counteract this, high-end aluminum windows are currently designed with a Thermal Bridge Break: a plastic separation placed in the central area of ​​the profiles to reduce the entry of cold and loss of color.
Another of its strong points is the wide range of profiles and accessories and the ease with which it can be worked, although at a higher price.
And finally, aluminum is a very light and resistant metal, but it tends to generate condensation and scratches, leaving it exposed to oxidation and corrosion.
PVC windows
More than 30 years ago, it began to take its first steps in Europe due to its excellent insulation and efficiency.
PVC, a resin composed of 57% common salt, was the last material to be added to this list. Today, it is the present and the future of windows.
PVC windows are characterized by their excellent thermal and acoustic insulation since, in addition to the PVC itself, they are designed and extruded with several internal air chambers, adding, in the case of Ecoven plus windows, a reinforcement of galvanized steel in all profiles.
It is a highly durable material with a meager maintenance cost; you only need soap and water, as it is immune to contamination and highly resistant to condensation and inclement weather. The color remains stable over time. Thanks to new foliating technologies, they can be produced in a wide range of colors and wood and metallic finishes, smooth and textured, and in the new ultra-matt Spectral finish, a great revolution for the aesthetic possibilities of windows.
Another of its significant advantages is its ability to be 100% recycled and its lower environmental impact in the manufacturing process. According to a study by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, PVC windows are 45% more efficient than aluminum ones and 15% more than wood in reducing CO2 emissions.
Types of windows according to the glazing
The glazing of a window is a fundamental element since it represents the more significant part of its surface. Although it is still possible to create windows with a single glass, Ecoven plus windows are designed to support double or triple glazing, with air chambers that generate more excellent insulation and reduce energy loss.
In addition, there are crystals specifically designed to reinforce the main benefits of windows.
Low emissive glass windows
Low-emissive glazing is designed to make it difficult for heat and cold to escape from the interior to the exterior, maintaining the home’s temperature with significant energy savings and, therefore, a noticeable reduction in heating and cooling costs.
Solar control glass windows
These glasses can filter solar radiation. They let in almost all the light but minimize the heat that enters from the outside, which makes them especially useful in areas with high levels of sunshine and high temperatures.
Acoustic glass windows
In noisy places, poorly insulated windows are one of the leading causes of loss of comfort in the home. To avoid this, acoustic glass, laminated with special butyral, can reduce noise entering a building without sacrificing thermal insulation or safety.
With the right combination, you can achieve an attenuation of up to 48 decibels, equivalent to going from the noise of an airplane turbine to the typical sound of an office.
Safety glass windows
Safety glazing is made up of two or more pieces of glass joined together by a plastic sheet which, in the event of breakage, makes them stick together and not come off.
Various levels of security can be achieved: physical protection, anti-theft, against firearms, against explosions…
Types of windows according to the type of opening
Many aspects determine the best opening for the windows of a home. Interior space, exterior space, light needs, the need to allow passage between spaces…
Each house, project, and need is unique, which is why each case must be studied.
fixed windows
Fixed windows are those that only consist of a glass frame. That is, they do not allow their opening, only the passage of light and energy, to a greater or lesser extent.
Often, these windows are joined and form part of the same set with a mobile window or a door.
Hinged, folding, or practicable windows
A casement window allows opening of one or two sheets that rotate on the side frames, to which hinges join them. We could say that it is the most traditional window.
Swing, tilt, or project windows
A swing window is very similar to a casement window. The sashes do not rotate on the side frames but rather on the lower frame (tilt window, which opens from above) or on the upper frame (awning window, which opens from above). Open bottom).
tilt-and-turn windows
Most modern windows are tilt-and-turn windows, which combine the two previous ones: a window whose leaves not only open by turning on the side frames but also has a third handle position -usually upwards- that allows turning on the lower frame to leave the sash open at the top, allowing good ventilation.
The hardware plays a fundamental role in these windows since it requires more effort and weight. For this reason, the Ecoven plus windows are equipped with the Winkhaus activPilot perimeter fitting.
Sliding or sliding windows
We usually consider the terms “sliding window” and “sliding window” as synonyms.
This is not entirely accurate since, in the past, sliding windows were practically the only type of sliding window that existed; today, we have several systems that allow a window to open by sliding one of its leaves.
Each of these systems is adjusted to a specific need. However, they all share their particular indication for places where the interior space is tiny and large window openings are needed.
- Sliding window: the leaves slide on one or several guide rails installed on a frame or a base (ground level). With a unique pocket-closing system, it is also possible for all of them to be inserted inside the wall, allowing the total hole to open. On the other hand, in general, its level of tightness is lower than that of other systems.
- Oscilloparallel window: it is a system that combines two leaves; one tilt-and-turn and another that slides in parallel on guides towards the interior when opening and closing on the same plane. This closure is also perimeter, offering more excellent sealing and security.
- Lift-up window: it achieves the highest levels of insulation and efficiency thanks to its powerful hardware, which supports the weight of the sash when it is opened and allows its perimeter and hermetic closure. These windows reach the most significant dimensions and weights, and even so, the sliding of the sash is very smooth and comfortable.
- Folding windows are characterized by folding the leaves with each other accordion type, making possible the total opening of large openings.
revolving window
A pivot window, also known as a pivoting or tilting window, is a system that allows the sash to rotate around an axis, usually horizontal, in the center of the frame.
It has three opening positions: central position, where the sash remains open in a diagonal plane; the short one, where the handles allow small ventilation holes; and the complete one, where the leaf rotates until it is at the height of the window.
Types of windows by shape.
Although it may seem like a minor issue, the shape of the window is essential when choosing one material or another based on the design needs and the experience and training of each manufacturer and its professionals.
straight window
Straight-shaped windows are the most common, especially in houses and blocks. Its greater ease of assembly allows the automation of processes, using the most advanced technology to minimize the risk of human manufacturing errors. However, this does not necessarily mean mass production.
At Even plus, each window is unique, personalized, and personalized, and we continue to invest in our manufacturing processes. We are carrying out an ambitious expansion and modernization work that will allow us to have more than 16,000 square meters for production and logistics, always aiming to minimize delivery times and offer the best possible service.
arched window
Arched windows are windows in which one or all frames are designed in an arched shape. There are circular, semicircular, or curved ones in different styles (half point, lowered…).
Depending on the material from which the profile is made, creating an arched window presents a different difficulty level.
So while aluminum and wood are the most accessible materials, PVC poses quite a challenge. Most PVC window manufacturers cannot achieve this. Still, the Ecoven Plus Specialized Solutions Team stands out for its ability and experience, working almost manually to create the solutions our customers need.
drawer point of view
A particular type of window is a mitered box alcove window, widespread in different regions of our country.
As with arched windows, not all manufacturers can make this type of connection. They require unique specialization and precision, relying on a team of experienced and almost qualified professionals, such as the Ecoven Special Team mentioned above. Solution.
Types of windows according to efficiency, comfort, and savings
As we see, not all windows are the same. Even less in terms of its benefits and contribution to energy efficiency, comfort, and savings for its users.
We can establish a triple classification.
Passivhaus windows or high-efficiency windows
They represent the highest level. They are very high-performance windows, specifically designed to achieve the best performance in insulation and airtightness and comply with the demanding Passivhaus standard. These windows have frames and sheets of great width (82 mm), very powerful glazing, and fittings to support the extra weight.
An important concept when talking about the efficiency of a window is its thermal transmittance, also called U-value. Without getting too technical, transmittance represents the rate at which the window lets heat and cold in and out.
The lower the transmittance, the greater the comfort.
For a window to be considered passivhaus, its transmittance must be Uw ≤ 0.8 W/m2K. But this is somewhat misleading because the Uw is the transmittance of the window as a whole, not that of the glazing (Ug), which is always lower, and, therefore, is not comparable.
In addition, the transmittance also depends on the size of the window and the proportion of glass, so two Uw cannot be compared without having more data.
Our Even plus s82 window was the first PVC window to achieve the Passivhaus certificate in Spain.
efficient windows
In many cases, especially in reforms and rehabilitations, the windows must fulfill the function of substantially improving the home’s insulation, resulting prominently and directly in comfort, savings, and quality of life.
Correctly combining the different elements of the window -profile, hardware, and glazing-an expert should be able to advise the best solution for each particular need.
In the case of aluminum windows, as we have said, to break the metal’s excellent conduction and increase its insulation, it is necessary to resort to profiles with Thermal Bridge Break (RPT) that incorporate a plastic element in their central area.
On a day-to-day basis, our Ecoven plus s70 window, with five chambers and a double gasket, is the most demanded solution.
It is the only PVC window that has earned the AENOR N quality certificate, which means that this external body verifies, controls, and guarantees its resistance and long durability.
low-end windows
Of course, there are still low-end options on the market, such as enclosure solutions. Thin aluminum or wood windows with simple glass and PVC profiles of Asian origin… are very economical options, although, logically, the benefits are not the same.
Types of windows according to the finish
A few years ago, each material conditioned the color of the window. PVC windows practically only had the possibility of being sold in their characteristic white base color.
Now, however, everything has changed thanks to folios, which give color, texture, and shine to windows, with previously unthinkable aesthetic possibilities. This, together with the trend to stop hiding the windows behind thick curtains to give them a leading role in the style and decoration of the home, has meant a revolution in the sector.
Something of vital importance in the case of buildings that require maintaining a uniform aesthetic on the façade because we want our clients to have the possibility of enjoying maximum personalization, making their homes personal and unique spaces.
plain colored windows
Thanks to the foils, PVC and aluminum windows are available in almost any shade. You can also opt for lacquer, although costs can increase significantly.
Wood finish windows
In addition to wooden windows, PVC and aluminum windows can imitate wood-colored finishes. With a smooth or textured finish, thanks to the quality of current foliate coatings, PVC windows imitate wood very well.
Metallic finish windows
In the same way, metallic finishes are no longer exclusive to aluminum windows but can be recreated in PVC with amazingly realistic results and in a wide range of shades.
